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Why did Apple not give 4GB RAM on the 9.7" iPad Pro ?
- Thread starter augustya
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What? You know how much 2GB X 10 million iPads costs? And if they feel they don't need to spend that money, why should they?
so that there is a reason to buy the bigger ipad (in addition to it being bigger)
Honestly, probably because they figured that most people don't need it and won't know the difference anyway. If they feel that 2GB is enough to offer a satisfying user experience, and for the large majority of customers it is, then that's what they'll use.
As much as I don't like the outcome of this reason, it's probably the most accurate.
because its the magic amount that runs fine right now so you'll buy it, and not run so well on future software updates, so you'll buy another one that does.
I think you are exactly right.
Anyways they were gonna recover that cost from the customers so they could have priced it that way had the cost of manufacturing been such a big bottleneck for them ! Apple demands and people pay that has been the trend so far....
Agreed. I think the main reason is because 2GB is good enough for the majority of their target market for the iPad Pro 9.7. For those who REALLY want/need the extra RAM that's what the 12.9 iPad is for. I think that 2GB is good for everyday use of the iPad and most won't notice the difference.
Actually, the people whinging about it generally have no idea as to it's impact on performance, now or later. We aren't Apple engineers and have no idea as to how RAM is managed in iOS.
However, it is a number that people latch on to, and it is superficially easy to immediately say that 4 is better than 2, no matter what. No thoughts to energy consumption, battery life, pixel differences. The 9.7 IPP has a twelve core graphics chip and performance benchmarks second only to the 12.9 iPP, and reviews say that the device is fast and smooth.
None of that matters, we have to find some thing thst everyone "just knows" is a ripoff.
Mine will be in hand on the 31st, bet it runs just fine, no matter how much RAM it has (the number comes from one source btw, we really don't know for sure), and will continue to do so for the next half decade.
And all of you who will complain about safari tabs? Get an ad blocker, you will be amazed.
However, it is a number that people latch on to, and it is superficially easy to immediately say that 4 is better than 2, no matter what. No thoughts to energy consumption, battery life, pixel differences. The 9.7 IPP has a twelve core graphics chip and performance benchmarks second only to the 12.9 iPP, and reviews say that the device is fast and smooth.
None of that matters, we have to find some thing thst everyone "just knows" is a ripoff.
Mine will be in hand on the 31st, bet it runs just fine, no matter how much RAM it has (the number comes from one source btw, we really don't know for sure), and will continue to do so for the next half decade.
And all of you who will complain about safari tabs? Get an ad blocker, you will be amazed.
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It comes down to profit margin and sales. They must have concluded the increased sales of having 4gb vs. 2gb wasn't worth the profit margin decrease.
Also I do believe Apple holds things back in order to leave something for the next cycle. If they make something "too good" then the next versions won't have enough new/better features to persuade people to upgrade.
Also I do believe Apple holds things back in order to leave something for the next cycle. If they make something "too good" then the next versions won't have enough new/better features to persuade people to upgrade.
Because Apple knows best what's good for you. You are a sad human being who was using a PC and now Apple saved your poor soul with the 9.7" Pro.
By this logic then all current PCs and Macs should just come with 128gb of RAM and stuff 32gb RAM in an iPad just because right? Forget that more RAM needs more battery to keep it powered and and other technical aspects of running more RAM.
You put in what is needed now; at some point in the future you will need more. Cost/benefit. There is little benefit compared to the cost to stuff specs in where the current aren't being maxed out now. Then everyone will b*tch and whine the price goes up even more when they get the specs they want because they think Apple should charge them at cost for the upgraded parts; just like the why are they charging more for more memory as if Apple owes them better parts for equal cost.
And everyone forgets the 12.9" is pushing around a LOT more pixels so it may need 4gb of RAM not to hit the 2gb cap (well whatever amount is usable RAM)
This has only been going on 20 years with computing in general that new devices come out with better specs. Apple has no duty to make a device so that you can use it 5 years from now for your financial benefit, lets be real. They're a company who runs on profits.
If anyone can name even 1 app the only can run on 4gb then this argument has an iota of merit; as every other iOS device currently sold is 2gb so no one is going to alienate the other device users.
You put in what is needed now; at some point in the future you will need more. Cost/benefit. There is little benefit compared to the cost to stuff specs in where the current aren't being maxed out now. Then everyone will b*tch and whine the price goes up even more when they get the specs they want because they think Apple should charge them at cost for the upgraded parts; just like the why are they charging more for more memory as if Apple owes them better parts for equal cost.
And everyone forgets the 12.9" is pushing around a LOT more pixels so it may need 4gb of RAM not to hit the 2gb cap (well whatever amount is usable RAM)
This has only been going on 20 years with computing in general that new devices come out with better specs. Apple has no duty to make a device so that you can use it 5 years from now for your financial benefit, lets be real. They're a company who runs on profits.
If anyone can name even 1 app the only can run on 4gb then this argument has an iota of merit; as every other iOS device currently sold is 2gb so no one is going to alienate the other device users.
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Perhaps space? The larger has two, 2gb chips next to the A9X. Of course they could have used one 4gb chip.
I don't know why some people get offended when you talk about 4GB RAM -- it is a legitimate question. Maybe most people will never notice having only 2GB, but enough will and no one ever said "oh wow, there's just too much RAM in this thing".
Because it doesn't need it? How about that? This topic has had me rolling since it was revealed. A bunch of geeks tripping over a measly 2GB of unnecessary RAM. Settle down, folks, the device is going to work -- and exceptionally well.
Are you upset that your Honda Civic doesn't have a 50 gallon gas tank, too? LOL
Are you upset that your Honda Civic doesn't have a 50 gallon gas tank, too? LOL
Yeah, the responses are as if the OP made fun of their mothers or something. My goodness. Relax. It's a very legitimate question. I own an Air 1 and it DOES exhibit some low ram behavior with Safari and a few other situations. The tablet really needs 2GB and amazingly the Air 2 runs better because of the extra ram. I'm sure the apologists at the time said the same thing about the Air 1: it doesn't need more ram, Apple needs more profit, you are all spec geeks, etc,etc. except , REAL WORLD use cases proved that the ram was an issue.
I suspect that many people will be unaffected... At first. Who knows as larger apps and games come out if it will be a possible issue down the road? I don't think 4GB or ram is asking too much in a Pro level device. And the cost to Apple is still trivial.... Oh yeah, they raised the price as it is so that should've covered it anyways, lol.
As for using more battery? Please. Bunch of fooey. Hey, whatever, I'm probably steering clear of it and will save a ton of money on an Air 2 or the big iPad which has the better specs.
"Bunch of fooey" doesn't quite make it as far as explaining your qualifications or justification for Ram requirements in iOS. The OS is constantly being optimized and no one is sure of how much RAM the device actually has. It comes from one benchmark program that may or may not be correct. Tech weenie media all glommed on to it.
some people seem to foam at the mouth at the prospect that something that is good enough for them isn't good enough for everyone.
my entire computing life i've had to listen to people tell me what is 'good enough' ram. i've been heavily into digital art, digital video, 3d rendering and hell even computer science, since the early 90s. i've dealt with the "nobody needs that much" folks for literally decades now. heck, even check my post history when snow leopard launched and some sort of early compatibility bug with adobe after effects was causing a massive memory leak. i had bloody screen shots of my system monitor becoming totally ram starved and the entire system grinding to a halt, and there were still people on here who just said "OS X has great ram management, you're imagining it."
an 8mp camera is "plenty" for the "everyday use". the speaker in my iPad 3 is "good enough" for the "average user" the bazillion existing bluetooth keyboard accessories for iPads are "fine." for me, ram would have been a more worthwhile addition than ANY of those things. ram limitations might mean smaller drawing canvases. fewer video filters. any forthcoming productivity enhancements that are tied to a specific amount of ram in a device (e.g. air 2 multitasking)
that said, i'm still likely going to get the 9.7 pro. i want the drawing experience, and life's too short to wait for the 'perfect device.' but i'm a realist that it has limitations, and might have future disappointments.
So that there is more incentive to buy the move expensive 12", so the current 12" users don't feel shafted, so they can save a lot of money, because they can.